Sweep hots up after stage 7

Well the Tour always gets most interesting when it hits the mountains, and things certainly changed today. However the expected attack from Andy Richards didn't come, the leadership battle in Astana being settled in Malcolm Wake's favour as he broke free from the pack chasing the stage winner, Brice Feillu. Although Malcolm Wake has had to settle for second place in the overall classification behind surprise yellow jersey, Rinaldo Nocentini.

Rumours of a bust-up in Astana after the end of the stage have been quashed, team manager Johann Bruyneel saying that the raised voices between Richards and Wake were actually the result of a particularly competitive bout of thumb wrestling.

Elsewhere in Astana Anthony Robson and Bill Young swapped positions in the GC, while Matthew Ball proved himself to be (and how can I put this politely?) utterly rubbish at climbing (although 2 punctures sandwiched a demon descent to catch the peloton again), and the former maillot jaune is now 39th in the standings. Matthew Ball said at the end of the stage, "Yellow's not really my colour, it didn't match my eyes."

And we have our first abandonment! Grant just couldn't face the start of Stage 6, walking off in a strop he was overheard to say, "You're all mean and nasty, my mum said I could win this time!"

A final word for Bradley Wiggins. Storming ride up the mountain, and 5th in the overall. His top 20 aim could be a true reality, but it depends on how much he has to save to help his (lower placed) team leader, Ewan. And a final word from Mark Cavendish, "Where have my lead-out men gone?"

http://www.citycycling.co.uk/TdF/tdfsweep.html

Anth